Class 03 fitted with a bell...

[Dave |H]

Hi,

Why would 03121 be fitted with a bell just in front of the cab.. I've looked at other 03 pictures and this seems to be the only one so fitted..?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/british-r ... en-public/

Any answers welcome..

Thanks in advance

Dave H

Dave HRegistered User

Topic authorPosts: 15Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 3:49 pmLast Visit: Fri Dec 16, 2022 11:08 pmName: Dave HEnthusiast Since:1974
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[Peterthegreat]

Hi,

Why would 03121 be fitted with a bell just in front of the cab.. I've looked at other 03 pictures and this seems to be the only one so fitted..?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/british-r ... en-public/

Any answers welcome..

Thanks in advance

Dave H

Dave HRegistered User

Topic authorPosts: 15Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 3:49 pmLast Visit: Fri Dec 16, 2022 11:08 pmName: Dave HEnthusiast Since:1974
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I suspect it was because of running on roads (as the picture shows). They may be fixed to others or be portable and used only when required.

 

[Lloyds siding]

And the flickr photo shows a man with a red flag...not seen one of those for a while!

 

[Gloster]

I think that it is just crossing the road into Fry’s factory, not running along it, and I don’t think a bell was needed for that: Class 22 and 35 were used for the shunt at times and they didn’t have bells. 03 121 had been at Bath Road for at least ten years, so I can only presume it was related to some of its other work, which I think was mostly around the Lawrence Hill area.

 

[D6968]

Would it be one of those that worked Weymouth Quay?

 

[randyrippley]

The 03 fleet on Weymouth Quay had a removeable oversized electric continuous alarm bell and amber rotating light over the buffer beam, same kit as later used on the 33/1 and a couple of 33/0
Before the 03 the quay was worked by 04 and I think from memory they had the same gear. I don't remember anything like this manual bell

 

[Gloster]

I think the Weymouth Quay ones originally had the bell in front of the grill; those without bells had a man with a handbell walking in front. I don’t think that 03 121 (D2121) does not appear to have ever been on Bournemouth or Weymouth’s allocation.

 

[Taunton]

I think that it is just crossing the road into Fry’s factory, not running along it, and I don’t think a bell was needed for that: Class 22 and 35 were used for the shunt at times and they didn’t have bells. 03 121 had been at Bath Road for at least ten years, so I can only presume it was related to some of its other work, which I think was mostly around the Lawrence Hill area.

Regular work for the Bristol Class 03 in the 1960s was the quite substantial network of freight sidings along the old Midland Railway approach to their onetime St Philips terminus, which is not near St Philips Marsh but well on the north side of the Temple Meads lines, and which did indeed diverge from the Midland passenger lines near Lawrence Hill. Some of these extended, at a much lower level, right to the edge of the River Avon, and were distantly visible from the very east end of the platforms at Temple Meads. They crossed Avon Street on the level with a large fan of sidings, which is probably where the bell was needed.

I think the diesels replaced the Barrow Road shed 0-4-0 tanks 51217/8 there. I wonder if those needed bells as well.

 

[Gloster]

A quick look at photos of 03 382, the other long-time Bath Road resident, suggests that she did not have a bell. D2122, next after 03 121 seems also to have had a bell, so perhaps they were turned out by Swindon like that. I will search (later) to see if I can find their initial allocation.

 

[DelW]

And the flickr photo shows a man with a red flag...not seen one of those for a while!

A red flag but no high vis, despite having to stand in the middle of the road ... how times change!

 

[Gloster]

The initial allocation of 03 121 (and D2122) was Danygraig, so was there some duty in Port Talbot Docks, or even the ones at Swansea, requiring a bell?

 

[Taunton]

Here's 03382 actually crossing Avon Street in St Philips - no bell. That thwarts my suggestion! Temple Meads approach lines in the background.

http://bristol-rail.co.uk/w/images/c/c2/Avon_Street10.jpg

 

[Gloster]

Delving further, it seems that the GWR 1101 Class (*) had bells fitted on the front of the cab. These were based at Danygraig and were probably replaced by the 03, so it is possible that the bell is related to a specific duty at that shed.

* - Or at least 1105, which appears in most photos.

EDIT: In a photo of D2120 at Swansea East Dock on Flickr it appears also to have a bell, though the photo isn’t that clear.

 

[robert thomas]

Delving further, it seems that the GWR 1101 Class (*) had bells fitted on the front of the cab. These were based at Danygraig and were probably replaced by the 03, so it is possible that the bell is related to a specific duty at that shed.

* - Or at least 1105, which appears in most photos.

EDIT: In a photo of D2120 at Swansea East Dock on Flickr it appears also to have a bell, though the photo isn’t that clear.

There was some street running in Swansea until c1960

 

[Big Jumby 74]

I don’t think that 03 121 (D2121) does not appear to have ever been on Bournemouth or Weymouth’s allocation.

Purely from memory but I think most 03's, in later years, that worked the Quay were from the D23xx late batch, although I did see D2082 working a van train along there, and (04) D2280 on a Boat train back in the day. Have several other pics taken back then, but some were more of head on views - being in pedestrian mode, we were encouraged to stand against the walls of buildings as the train(s) approached.....I don't think D2121 was ever part of the Southern's collection though.

 

[RUFJAN15]

There was some street running in Swansea until c1960

Found a photo of GWR 1151 on-street in Swansea (1959), complete with bell. https://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/5957134943

 

[randyrippley]

I've got a record of seeing these 03 at Weymouth early 1970s
2084
2086
2179
2180
2196
2197
2398
2399

the 1972 locoshed book shows these as the only 03 allocated to 70F (Bournemouth) - which I suspect they rarely - if ever - saw.
It looks like 2398/9 were withdrawn not long after
.
2082 mentioned earlier had already been withdrawn

I had earlier seen 04 on the line, but by 1972 none of the remaining examples were allocated to 70F

==note==
post edited after Taunton's correction - see below

 

[Taunton]

I've got a record of seeing these 03 at Weymouth early 1970s
2179
2180
2196
2197
and these 04
2398
2399

the 1972 locoshed book shows these as the only 03/04 allocated to 70F (Bournemouth) - which I suspect they rarely - if ever - saw.
It looks like the two 04 were withdrawn not long after, so I presume they were mid-change
As far as I can remember the 03 stayed at Weymouth until withdraw as they were fitted to take the bell gear

Ah, you should have been a trainspotter in youth, and had all that knowledge churning round for 50 years - 2370-99 were Class 03

 

[randyrippley]

Ah, you should have been a trainspotter in youth, and had all that knowledge churning round for 50 years - 2370-99 were Class 03

I was for a few years, then I discovered beer...........
actually I got fooled by the locoshed book which doesn't separate the later 03/04 sequences
I'll correct my post to avoid confusion